Mumbai shocker: From raccoons and black foxes to hyraxes, 45 animals seized from passenger at airport

Customs officials at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai made a shocking discovery on Saturday. They seized 45 wild animals from a passenger who had arrived on a Thai Airways flight.

According to officials, the passenger was intercepted shortly after landing. Upon checking his luggage, Customs officers found raccoons, black foxes, iguanas, and hyraxes (small animals that look like rabbits). Sadly, many of the animals were already dead due to suffocation caused by the poor conditions in which they were being smuggled.

Wildlife experts from the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) were called in to help care for the surviving animals. Officials said the animals will be sent back to their source country in line with the Wildlife Protection Act.


Authorities are continuing the investigation and have not ruled out a larger smuggling network behind the case.

Inputs from PTI